Philosophy Department
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Philosophy Department |
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Reason and Revolution: 19th Century Philosophy (PHEU 3602)
Robert O'Brien
| The course will start with Hegel's philosophy of Reason emphasizing his notion of Dialectical Reason, its manifestation in the unfolding of history and its political impact. The philosophical and political reaction to Hegel is Marx's Dialectical Materialism. Despite the demise of Marx and the failure of Marxist states, his philosophy has some valuable insights that should not be dismissed because of his association with Communism. Marx is dead; Marxism is not. Another attack on Hegel is Schopenhauer's rather bizarre metaphysics of Irrationalism with some penetrating insights into human nature which influenced Freud among others. Finally, the dual attack on all Rationalism by the opposed pair of Kierkegaard and Nietzsche who, despite all their differences, together have had an enormous impact of 20th century philosophical and religious developments. This is an exciting century whose impact still resonates today. |
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